by Jody Hojin KimmelOriginally published in Mountain Record journal: Zazen (2013) Just resting is like the great ocean accepting hundreds of streams all absorbed in one flavor. A practitioner of the way follows movement and responds to changes in total harmony. Moreover, haven’t you yourself established the mind that thinks up all the illusory conditions? This insight must be perfectly incorporated. Discontinue leaks and do not act on them. — Master HongzhiCultivating the Empty Field How do we leak the vital energy we need for spiritual awakening? What do we have to do to, “discontinue the leaks and not act...

Originally published in Mountain Record journal: "Morality in the World" (2002) Continue reading “Precepts in the World: Sangha Reflections” »

by Bonnie Myotai Treace, SenseiOriginally published in Mountain Record journal: "Practicing the Edge" (2001) In the space between desire and despair, between holding and letting go; between clinging and release, in this space is the unspoken thing. The thing that lives.—Lives of the Monster Dogs I’ve been working over the last few weeks with family members as they make a memorial visit to Ground Zero. The trips begin at the Family Assistance Center on Dock 94, where death certificates are being issued and other support services can be arranged. The Center is very big and very busy. From there we get on a ferry that goes down river to the World Trade Center site....

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei and Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, Sensei, in conversation with Danica Shoan Ankele.Originally published in Mountain Record journal: "Mother of All Buddhas" (2016) Continue reading “Facets of the Jewel” »

Oh my gosh! How did the high privilege ever come to me to review this book? I am lost in it and continually astonished. Margaret Gibson’s newest book of poems, Not Hearing the Wood Thrush, is ripe and full and endlessly transcendent. Not hearing the wood thrush is a fine art that we would all do well to learn She makes her way and takes us with her through the dozen doors and windows of her poems into the woods, the river, and the star fields.  Continue reading “Book Review: Not Hearing the Wood Thrush ” »

NOTE: In October 2018, 16 sangha members, including Shugen Roshi and Hojin Sensei, travelled to India and Nepal "in the footsteps of the Buddha." Here are some of their reflections and photos. More photos from an earlier blog post here. Continue reading “Sangha Reflections on Buddhist Pilgrimage” »

Dear Sangha, Not being a native speaker of English, living my 75th year of life, hard of hearing—surely I was way back in the line of candidates for Chief Disciple. Thus, it was a big surprise when Shugen Roshi asked me to be Chief Disciple for Spring Ango. Immediately a line from the Shuso Hossen Ceremony became real and very present for me: “I feel like a mosquito trying to bite an iron bull.” Fears of incompetence arose in my consciousness. Continue reading “Shuso’s Letter Spring Ango 2019” »

Michelle Seigei Spark, senior lay student in the Mountains and Rivers Order, spoke recently with Mountain Record about creative process, resilience and joy. Continue reading “Art-Making Joy” »

October 23, 2018—As of this writing, Shugen Roshi and Hojin Sensei, along with 14 fellow sangha members, are nearing the end of their three week pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Buddha. They’re looking forward to sharing their photos and reflections with the rest of us when they return, but we’re getting a head start using some of the images and messages that have been sent back over the past dozen or so days. Continue reading “On Pilgrimage to India” »

by Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi LISTEN TO THIS TALK> FROM THE RECORD OF MASTER YANGSHAN Ho-shang Mi of Ching-chao sent a monastic to ask Yangshan: “Right in this very moment are you dependent on enlightenment?” Yangshan said “There is no absence of enlightenment. Why fall into the secondary?” Ho-shang Mi was a peer of Master Yangshan, a very important Chinese master in our lineage. Here he asks, right in this moment are you dependent upon enlightenment? Continue reading “Practice and Resilience” »